The Portland Timbers will be walking a little more upright this week. The Timbers are standing taller after the heavy weight of a winless season was lifted.

Maximiliano Urruti scored the game-winner in extra time, giving the Timbers their first win of the season and perhaps saved their season after a 3-2 win against D.C. United in front of a 20,814 on a rainy Saturday night at Providence Park.

Urruti scored the game-winner literally seconds before the final whistle, giving the Timbers (1-3-5, eight points) the win and snapping what was a mentally draining eight-game winless streak to start the season.

"It's just three points. Sometimes, it feels like more and this is one that feels like more," Portland coach Caleb Porter said. "It lifts a bit of a weight."

The Timbers scored in the final minute and in the first minute of play.

Gaston Fernandez scored in a franchise-record 34 seconds into the game, and Futty Danso added a goal as the Timbers held together despite blowing one-goal leads on two separate occasions in the game.

Urruti's winner, his second goal of the season, occurred deep into extra time as the Timbers were throwing numbers forward in an effort to score the winner. They had come into this home game with the desire to win and another draw, particularly under the circumstances, would have been devastating.

"To have tied that game would've been really difficult," midfielder Steve Zakuani said.

No matter now. The burden of that winless streak has been lifted. Perhaps now the Timbers, who moved into a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference after the win, will relax and go on a run. The game against D.C. United was the first of three consecutive home games and they have a chance to get the season moving in the right direction.

Toward earning a berth in the playoffs.

"We want to build this into a run. There's a lot of positive energy that comes out of (Saturday)," midfielder Will Johnson said. "That positive energy is overwhelming all the negatives. We feel good."

The warm and fuzzy feelings come from Urruti's winner. The Argentine forward came on as a substitute for Jack Jewsbury in the 83rd minute as the Timbers started pressing to score the winner.

Receiving a pass from Diego Valeri, Urruti's first shot was blocked by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, but the deflection sent the ball directly back to Urruti and his second shot didn't miss.

The score capped an offensive outburst for the Timbers, who scored more than one goal in a game for just the second time this season. The Timbers scored four goals in the 4-4 draw against Seattle April 5.

The first goal of the game against D.C. United occurred before the fans were settled into their seats.

Just seconds after kickoff, Darlington Nagbe stole the ball from D.C. United defender Cristian, eluded Jeff Parke before sending a forward pass to Valeri on the right side. Valeri saw a totally unmarked Fernandez streaking in front of goal and fired a perfect cross. Fernandez jumped over the onrushing Hamid and with his back to goal, managed to get his foot on ball for the goal 34 seconds into the game.

Fernandez's goal was the fastest goal scored in Timbers franchise history and his team-leading fourth goal of the season. But the Timbers couldn't hold the lead through the first half of play.

D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud blasted what initially looked like more of a hopeful shot from about 35 yards out, but the ball deflected off the foot of Portland midfielder Diego Chara, which changed the flight and direction of the ball. Sailing in high, Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts didn't have a chance and the game was tied in the 21st minute.

The Timbers took another lead when Danso - while falling down - got his right foot on the end of a Valeri corner for the goal in the 38th minute for a 2-1 lead. Danso was involved in D.C. United's equalizer with an own goal in the 78th minute and it looked as if the Timbers would have to settle for another aggravating draw.

"It was deja vu. That's what it felt like," Porter said. "Sometimes, psychologically when things aren't going your way, you play not to lose, instead of playing to win. You play not to lose, usually you lose."

The Timbers shook off the mental funk and restarted the offense behind Valeri, who posted two assists and could've had another assist on Urruti's goal.

Now that the Timbers have posted that first win, they'll try to restart their season.